Lobelia plant named &#39;lobmounlila&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Lobmounlila’ characterized by its mounding plant habit, strong branching, large flower size and violet-lilac flower color.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Lobelia erinus

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Lobmounlila’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct Lobelia plant botanically known as Lobelia erinus and referred to by the cultivar name ‘Lobmounlila.’

The new cultivar is propagated by cuttings resulting from the cross between ‘A903’ and ‘A909.’ ‘A903’ is a pink flower color selection of our own breeding, having a semitrailing habit, very strong growth, good branching plant habit and late flowering. ‘A909’ is a lilac flower color selection of our own breeding, having a strong growth, mounding plant habit and being early flowering. Neither ‘A903’ or ‘A909’ has been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2001 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands over a five year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations and this novelty appears to be firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Lobelia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color showing being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Lobelia. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 20 week old plants.

Color readings were taken in the laboratory under ambient light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Color Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London. TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ‘LOBMOUNLILA’ AND THE MOST RESEMBLING VARIETIES ‘Wesstar’ (U.S. Pat. ‘Ricardii’ (not Characteristics ‘Lobmounlila’ No. 12,708) patented) Plant height 20 cm 25 cm 25 cm width 35 cm 50 cm 50 cm shape Mounding Spreading to upright Spreading to upright Flower color upper surface N81A  95B 95B lower surface N81A 100A 95B flower tube N81A  95C 96D

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Lobelia erinus.         -   Female parent.—A seedling named ‘A903’ is one of our             seedlings from our A-generation of plants bred in 1999.         -   Male parent.—A seedling named ‘A909’ is one of our seedlings             from our A-generation of plants bred in 1999.         -   Growth habit.—Upright.         -   Plant height.—20cm.         -   Spreading area of plant.—25 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Strong growth.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node Pinching will enhance branching. Branches             strong and flexible.         -   Blooming period.—From May until October. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent, glossy.         -   Color.—RHS 1137B, RHS 137C in young leaves.         -   Length of internode.—10-20 mm, depending on light conditions             where the plant is grown, and the age of the stem.         -   Shape.—(Tri)angular. -   The foliage:     -   -   Shape.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical and flat.             Broadly ovate with rounded apex, obtuse and attenuate base             and crenate margin in young plant; more lanceolate with             entire margin in mature plant.         -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent, glossy.         -   Length.—25 mm.         -   Width.—In young plant up to 12 mm, mature plant 5 mm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B, RHS 137C in young leaves —             Lower surface: RHS 137C, RHS 137C in young leaves.         -   Petiole.—Not present. -   The flower:     -   -   Type and habit.—Flowers form at apical axils, usually one             flower per axil. Flowers labiate, upper lip consisting of             two small petals and lower lip consisting of three larger             and broader petals.         -   Lastingness.—10-14 days depending on temperature. Petals are             fused at base into a tube. Freely and continuously             flowering, around 100-150 flowers. Flowers face outward.             Texture, slightly pubescent. Oblong shape with acute apex             and entire margin.         -   Flower.—Width: Upper petals 1 mm, lower petals 5 mm —             Length: Upper petals 6 mm, lower petals 8 mm — Depth: 12 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, pubescent.         -   Buds.—Length: 9 mm — Diameter: 3 mm — Form: Tubular — Color:             Light green.         -   Flower color.—Upper surface: RHS N81A — Lower surface: RHS             N81B — Flower tube: RHS N81A.         -   Sepals.—No. of sepals: 5 — Length: 6 mm — Width: 0.5 mm —             Texture: Smooth, slightly pubescent — Color: RHS 79A.         -   Flower stem.—Length: 20-25 mm — Angle: 45 degrees — Stength:             Rigid, flexible — Color: RHS 143A.         -   Flower throat.—Color: Upper N81 B Lower N81C on the three             petals of flower, there is a white spot, width 1.5 mm, depth             3 mm. At the base of the lower petals, where the throat             starts, there are 2 yellow marking in the throat (length 3             mm, width 1.5 mm) — Texture: Whiskered — Depth: 8 mm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium stamen number.—5.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Anther length.—2 mm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 200A.         -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.         -   Pollen color.—RHS 9B.         -   Gynoecium pistil length.—About 8 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Bilobate.         -   Stigma diameter.—1 mm.         -   Stigma color.—N80C.         -   Style color.—Light green.         -   Ovary color.—RHS R137C. -   Seed development: Some seed development has been observed on plants     of the new Lobelia. -   Seed:     -   -   Color.—Brown.         -   Shape.—Round.         -   Size.—Very small, like dust.         -   Amount per seed pod.—Approximately 2000. -   Fruit:     -   -   Fruit size.—Diameter: 2 mm — Length: 5 mm.         -   Fruit color.—RHS 146B. -   Disease resistance: No susceptibility or resistance to fungal,     bacterial, or viral pathogens has been noted. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Lobmounlila’, as substantially illustrated and described herein. 